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A commonly expressed protein called periostin can directly activate itch-associated neurons in the skin, according to new research.

The researchers found that blocking periostin receptors on these neurons reduced the itch response in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis, or eczema. The findings could have implications for treatment of this condition.

Itch sensations are transmitted from neuronal projections in the skin through the dorsal root ganglia (DRG)clusters of sensory cells located at the root of the spinal nervesthen to the spinal cord.

We have found that periostin, a protein that is produced abundantly in skin as part of an allergic response, can interact directly with sensory neurons in the skin, effectively turning on the itch response, says lead author Santosh Mishra, assistant professor of neuroscience at North Carolina State University. Additionally, we identified the neuronal receptor that is the initial connection between periostin and itch response.

The researchers identified a receptor protein called v3, expressed on sensory neurons in skin, as the periostin receptor.

In a chemically-induced mouse model of atopic dermatitis, the team found that exposure to common allergens such as dust mites increased periostin production in skin, exacerbating the itch response. However, when the researchers turned off the receptor protein, itch reduced significantly.

Periostin and its receptor connect the skin directly to the central nervous system, Mishra says. We have identified the first junction in the itch pathway associated with eczema. If we can break that connection, we can relieve the itch.

The research appears in Cell Reports.

Funding for the work came from NC States startup fund. Additional researchers from NC State, Wake Forest University, and Duke University contributed to the work.

Source: NC State

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1 protein in the skin kickstarts a pesky itch - Futurity: Research News

During these dare I say it again strange and uncertain times, it's so important to find ways to unwind and stay calm amid all of the craziness. Lately, one of our personal favorite activities for self-care has been taking baths, not only because we have more time on our hands, but because it's a soothing experience for both the body and mind.

Add some bath salts or a muscle-relaxing soak into the mix and it gets even better. (Spa-like, some might say.) There's a variety of options to choose from, too... bath bombs, dead sea-infused salts, and colloidal oatmeal elixirs, just to name a few.

As always, Allure editors were more than happy to share some of their most-loved products, but we also tapped two board-certified dermatologists for their go-to bath picks. Take it from us: These skin-loving salts and soaks turn bathtime into a serious treat.

Now enough chit-chat ahead, find nine amazing options that are worth adding to your arsenal if you want to soak the stress away, and get softer skin while you're at it.

All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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The 9 Best Bath Salts and Soaks of 2020 Reviews - Allure

SINGAPORE: In the last few months, senior patient service associate Judy Tan, 56, who works at Singapores National Skin Centre, has been struggling to find a balance between managing her eczema-prone skin and maintaining tip-top hand hygiene at work.

Tan suffers from irritant hand eczema on her right hand, a skin disease commonly seen in people working in the healthcare and food industry due to stringent hand hygiene practices.

Her work at the National Skin Centre involves handling patient enquiries, clinic registration as well as appointments and billing matters.

The eczema on her hands, which started about two years ago, has left her with painful, dry and cracked skin. Sometimes, the cracked skin would bleed.

Even the simple act of washing the dishes or shampooing her hair is challenging when her skin acts up.

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has made it even more challenging for her as healthcare workers must sanitise their hands after each patient encounter.

Tan, who works in a subsidised dermatology clinic where she sees up to 100 patients each day, said: I try to wash my hands with soap and water, and then apply moisturiser after handwashing in between patients instead of using alcohol rubs, which really hurt my skin.

If I have to use alcohol rubs or disinfectant wipes to clean the table counters at work, I will use the other hand, which is still holding up at the moment.

Tan said that her skin issues are not unique. Since the authorities stepped up on infection control measures, many of her colleagues have also been experiencing similar symptoms.

Tan said: Like me, the majority of my colleagues are also experiencing dry, itchy hands. However, I am honoured and proud to be in healthcare at this critical moment, so I will still carry on and do my part even though my hand eczema affects my lifestyle.

She has sought treatment at the skin centre itself. For now, she uses olive oil and hand cream, and wears cotton gloves at night after applying moisturisers to ease her severe skin dryness.

SANITISING HANDS 30 TO 50 TIMES EACH WORK SHIFT

Good hand hygiene helps prevent the transmission of infections such as Covid-19, but these preventive practices can also damage the skin.

Anecdotally, dermatologists approached by TODAY said that they are seeing a rising number of people with irritant eczema in the last two months all related to increased handwashing and overuse of harsh sanitising and disinfecting products.

Dr Mark Tang, senior consultant dermatologist at The Skin Specialists and Laser Clinic, said that skin issues related to over-washing and hand hygiene practices are an unavoidable reality for many people at the moment, particularly for healthcare and frontline workers.

He said that medical personnel must sanitise their hands after every patient encounter, which could be 30 to 50 times for each shift.

Being a little obsessive about hand hygiene is important and even life-saving at this time.

For those with a predisposition for hand or facial eczema, it is a very difficult time for them to balance the dilemma of maintaining hand hygiene and preventing eczema flares, Dr Tang said.

RASHES ON FACE FROM WEARING MASKS

Dr Tang has also encountered cases of facial rashes and mild pressure sores due to prolonged wearing of surgical or face masks.

The skin doctor, whose clinic is in Mount Alvernia Medical Centre, sees around two to three cases of hand rashes and one to two cases of facial rashes a week.

This does not include the many informal consultations he has when he encounters other healthcare workers in the wards and along corridors.

Dr Suzanne Cheng, senior consultant at the National Skin Centre, said that she has also noticed an increase in irritant eczema on the arms, legs and trunks due to frequent use of antiseptic body washes.

In particular, those with pre-existing eczema will suffer more because they already have a defective skin barrier, which makes their skin more sensitive.

DISRUPTING THE SKINS NATURAL B

ARRIER FUNCTION

Dr Cheng said that handwashing with soap and other aggressive disinfectants strip the skin of natural oils and damages the skin barrier.

When this is repeatedly done, it can cause skin dryness and flaking. In more severe cases, there is skin inflammation, itch, cracks and soreness.

Frequent use of an alcohol-based hand rub as well as disinfectant wipes and solutions for decontamination of high-touch areas has a similar effect, she added.

Even for those without pre-existing eczema issues, dermatologist Lynn Chiam from Children and Adults Skin Hair Laser Clinic said that certain ingredients found in hand sanitisers and detergents can disrupt the natural barrier function of the skin and strip away the skins natural oils and reduce its ability to protect itself.

The ingredients used in hand sanitisers that may affect the skin include various forms of alcohol, such as ethanol, n-proponol, isopropyl alcohol, chlorehexidine, hydrogen peroxides, quaternary ammonium derviatives, colorants and fragrances, Dr Chiam said.

So, although dermatologists see irritant eczema more commonly in people working in the healthcare and food sectors who must wash their hands more frequently, Dr Cheng from the National Skin Centre said that almost everyone now can develop the skin disease due to more vigorous hand hygiene practices to limit transmission of Covid-19.

Dr Chiam said that besides the healthcare sector, those working in the education and childcare sectors are more likely to sanitise and wash their hands more frequently as well.

In her practice, she has seen a 20 per cent increase in patients with hand eczema in the last two months. They range from young adults to parents of young children to the middle-aged group.

In severe cases, both hands are cracked, fissured and bleeding. It is painful (for them) to open their hands as the skin is so dry and painful, she said.

One of Dr Tangs patients, a 34-year-old auditor who did not want to be named, said that excessive handwashing in the last few months following the birth of her first child has worsened her hand eczema.

Right now, the dry and irritated skin around her joints has started to split spontaneously, which causes her a lot of pain.

I wash my hands even more these days, especially after I touch lift buttons or door handles. When well-meaning colleagues offer me hand sanitisers, Ill feel obliged to use them even though the alcohol rubs burn my skin so much that I feel like screaming when I use them, she said.

Dr Tang said that some of the more severe cases he has seen have infected areas with crusting and oozing. Tiny water vesicles (fluid-filled blisters) as well as swollen and inflamed nail folds can also develop.

These patients have constant itch that can affect their sleep. They also scratch incessantly, leading to further worsening of the inflammation and infection, he said.

CRACKED SKIN RAISES RISK OF ACQUIRING INFECTIONS

While good hand hygiene helps prevent transmission of infections, the experts warned that skin that is cracked and damaged could, ironically, put people at a higher risk of acquiring infections.

Dr Chiam said: Over-washing and over-disinfecting our hands can lead to excessive stripping away of natural oils on the skin, which are important components of the skin barrier. With a defective barrier function and cracks, tears in the skin from dryness, bacteria and viruses can enter the skin more readily.

Dr Tang said that although broken and fissured skin may increase the risk of bacterial infections and certain skin viruses such as the human papillomavirus that can cause warts, it does not increase ones risk of getting respiratory viral infections such as Covid-19 per se.

This is because respiratory viruses are usually transmitted via the respiratory tract or mucosal lining.

However, he pointed out that people with hand rashes may not adhere closely to hand hygiene practices due to their skin condition.

These lapses can increase their personal risk of getting infected. So, early prevention and treatment of hand rashes are vital in

our fight against the pandemic, Dr Tang said.

A GENTLE CLEANSER WILL WORK JUST AS WELL

For those prone to getting eczema or have active eczema, Dr Cheng of the National Skin Centre advised avoiding or minimising contact with irritants such as soap, disinfectants, detergents and alcohol-based wipes and rubs.

Use a gentle, soap-free, fragrance-free cleanser instead. Ensure there is easy access by putting a bottle by the sink, shower room and at your workplace toilet.

A cleanser does not need to be antibacterial or industrial-strength to clean skin and remove dirt, bacteria and viruses, she emphasised.

She also cautioned against using hot water to wash hands or shower because it can worsen skin conditions. The temperature of the water used for handwashing does not impact the removal of germs such as bacteria or viruses that cause diseases.

Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, programme leader for infectious diseases and the co-director of global health at NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, said that regular handwashing works best to clean hands, but added that a hand sanitiser is useful when a tap is not readily available.

Regular soap is sufficient to pry apart the envelope of viruses such as Sars-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, while water additionally washes away the virus particles, which does not happen with hand sanitiser, Associate Prof Hsu said.

He explained that most of the active ingredients in hand sanitisers available will work against the coronavirus, particularly those containing alcohol above 60 per cent concentration.

However, cleansers marketed as antibacterial offers no advantage against viruses, he said. They act against bacteria instead. Today Online

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Covid-19: Frequent hand-washing, sanitising giving rise to skin problems - New Straits Times Online

Incessant itching is a harsh and problematic reality for eczema sufferers, causing all sorts of problems that can range from skin infections to trouble sleeping. Scientists investigating the biological processes behind the condition have uncovered a protein in the skin they say acts as a switch for itch-related neurons, offering a potential new target in the ongoing search for more effective treatments.

A number of factors can cause outbreaks for eczema sufferers, including irritants, reactions to certain foods, and allergies. The itching sensation, which often goes with other symptoms such as dryness and redness, is driven by neurons in the skin, which take their cues from sensory cells based at the root of the spinal nerves.

Researchers at North Carolina State University have been examining this pathway through experiments on mice, in which they chemically induced cases of eczema. When exposing the animals to common allergens such as dust mites, the scientists observed an increase in a skin protein called periostin, which served to greatly exacerbate the itch response.

We have found that periostin, a protein that is produced abundantly in skin as part of an allergic response, can interact directly with sensory neurons in the skin, effectively turning on the itch response, says Santosh Mishra, lead author of a paper. Additionally, we identified the neuronal receptor that is the initial connection between periostin and itch response.

The receptor protein, called v3, is expressed in the skin's sensory neurons and acts as the connector for periostin in driving the increased itch response. The team found that by switching off the receptor, they could break this important chain and significantly reduce the severity of the itching.

Periostin and its receptor connect the skin directly to the central nervous system, Mishra says. We have identified the first junction in the itch pathway associated with eczema. If we can break that connection, we can relieve the itch.

The research was published in the journal Cell Reports.

Source: North Carolina State University

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Scientists identify a protein that switches on allergic itching - New Atlas

If you thought self isolation was going to give you gloriously fresh skin, you wouldn't be the only one.

And why wouldn't you? Surely weeks and weeks without makeup would mean our skin would see the benefits of working from home. But as we enter week three of self isolation, turns out it's actually quite the opposite.

Many women are seeing an increase in skin related troubles, from breakouts, to dryness and irritation dubbed 'iso skin'. Like we don't have enough things to worry about during the coronavirus pandemic, now we have skin woes to add to our ever growing list.But why?

According toDr Vivek Eranki, a leading Australian cosmetic surgeon and head of Australian Cosmetic, spending timeindoors is linked to vitamin D deficiency as well as increased exposure to artificial and dry air. And it's these two factors combined that are causing our skin to throw a bit of a tantrum.

"Skin is the body's largest organ and vitamin D deficiency accelerates its ageing. Not getting enough sun also lowers immunity and increases flare ups of autoimmune conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis,"Dr Eranki told 10 daily.

The artificial air that comes from our air conditioners and heaters further removes the moisture from our skin, causing it to dry out.

"Skin has to maintain its moisture levels to look good, but also to heal. Dry skin increases the risk of flare ups of eczema and other skin conditions and makes your skin more susceptible to infections,"Dr Eranki added.

Other factors including stress, poor diet and lack of exercise while we spend more time at home can further exacerbate these skin issues. Here's what you can do to get your skin back to normal:

You might be tempted to up your usual skincare routine while you're at home, especially if your skin is currently freaking out. We're talking about applying a face mask everyday and a plethora of serums.

Dr Eranki said this is a big no-no and likely causing your skin to spin out of control even further, the exact opposite of what you're trying to achieve.

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"When patients overdo their skin care regime, it inhibits the protective features of your skin. This has an opposite effect and causes flare ups of acne and eczema," he said.

So remember in primary school when your teacher used to tell you slow and steady wins the race? Turns out it's the same when it comes to skincare: sticking to a basic routine is usually best.

While you might want to give yourself a DIY facial or treatment,Dr Eranki advised being careful about what you try without clinical advice while beauty based businesses are closed due to restrictions.

"Some patients might be prescribed beauty treatments such as peels and dermal rollers for home use. This is patient-specific and may only apply for certain problem areas for that patient for a length of time," he said.

"Using these treatments without direction from a professional could be detrimental to your skin."

Being in isolation might lead you to eat more takeaway than you regularly do. While it's okay to have a treat every now and then,Dr Eranki said a healthy diet is important in maintaining good skin.

"While in isolation, reacquaint yourself with cooking healthy and hearty meals with lots of vegetables," he suggested.

Exercise can also help to manage the stress you might be feeling during this time, which aside from impacting our mental health, can also be bad for our skin.

"Aim to exercise for 30 minutes a day and clear your mind by dealing with things that you have been avoiding because you have no time and it will help you mentally de-clutter."

While you might think you can skip your usual sunscreen because you are inside,Dr Eranki encourages you to make sure you are still applying a suitable amount of SPF to avoid skin ageing as well as cancers.

"When near a window, I always recommend patients use a barrier sunscreen to protect themselves against UV-A and UV-B rays," he said.

"I suggest using a barrier sunscreen rather than a chemical sunscreen because they physically block UV light and are much safer than chemical sunscreens."

The best thing you can do to help your skin get back to its normal condition is to have a good skincare routine, with the first step being investing in a good soap and moisturiser.

"Use a good soap that doesnt completely strip away your natural oils on your skin and then make sure the moisturiser is emollient based and fragrance free,"Dr Eranki said.

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You should moisturise both morning and night and match your products to the time you use them.

"For patients with naturally oily skin, a serum works well to hydrate and protect and for those with more dry complexions, they would benefit from a lotion or cream."

Once the basics are covered, it's time to turn your attention to a good exfoliant that will remove dead skin layers and build up of grime. It will also help your skincare topenetrate more deeply, providing better nourishment to your skin cells.

"Frequency of exfoliating is very important. If your skin is currently inflamed or sensitive, do not exfoliate until it has healed. Once it has healed, gently exfoliate once a week,"Dr Eranki said.

"For normal or dry skin, I recommend exfoliating one to two times per week. For oily skin, I suggest you exfoliate two to three times per week."

When it comes to looking for a good exfoliant,Dr Eranki suggests opting for one with organic plant-basedingredients such as fruit enzymes, rhassoul clay, finely ground oats and non-abrasive walnut shell.

"These work in harmony with the natural physiology of your skin, encouraging the skins natural renewal process."

Vitamin A is an natural essential nutrient that supports skin and immune system that stimulates the production of new skin cells and is readily absorbed into the skin when you apply it topically.

If you don't have enough Vitamin A, your skin can become dry or a deficiencycan cause 'follicular hyperkeratosis' -- a condition marked by too much keratin in the hair follicles.

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According to Dr Eranki, this can cause raised papules to form on your skin.

That's why aside from including Vitamin A in your skincare routine, it's important to eat diet rich in the vitamin when you're in self isolation to help your skin along.

"Foods rich in Vitamin A include salmon, beef liver, dairy products, eggs, fish, cod liver oil and shrimp,"Dr Eranki said, adding that Vitamin A is a godsend for those suffering from acne.

Vitamin A further stimulates collagen production, which makes it effective in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and it can also help to even out skin tone by fading age spots.

Vitamin C is an anti-oxidant that triggers the skin to heal itself when applied topically, which accelerates theproduction of collagen and elastin.

"Collagen and elastin are both naturally occurring protein fibers that help keep skin plump and firm. So in helping to promote collagen production, topical vitamin C can help prevent premature aging of the skin,"Dr Eranki said.

Another benefit of Vitamin C is itinhibits your skin's melanin production, which would otherwise lead to skin discoloration, dark spots and hyperpigmentation.

As Vitamin C is not stored in your body, eating foods rich in it, such as oranges, is important and will also assist with immunity.

Featured image: Getty

Do you have a lifestyle story or personal experience to share with us? Reach out and tell us about it at vtodoroska@networkten.com.au

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Do You Have 'Iso Skin'? Why Your Face Is Freaking Out And How To Fix It - 10 daily

A lot has changed over the last few weeks. Between staying indoors, practicing social distancing, and adopting a new schedule that can include working from home, these life changes can be stressful for anyone.

What some people don't realize is that the tension can take a toll on your entire body, including your skin. Sandra Lee, aka Dr. Pimple Popper, joined Shop TODAY on Instagram to discuss how stress can affect your skin and how to mitigate the problem.

"Right now, all of us are going through an unprecedented time. There's a lot of anxiety, a lot of stress, a lot of just unknown. And this can really wreak havoc on our skin," Lee tells us. A lot of conditions flare, a lot of new conditions start. And I want to kind of go over these and tell you about the best products that I recommend to keep your skin nice and calm.

Lee recommends using a benzoyl peroxide treatment to help with acne.

You can use it to help treat bacteria that wants to collect in your acne bumps and really cause your acne to look and feel a lot worse, she explained.

This BP spot treatment is made with a stronger concentration of benzoyl peroxide, so its really great at those stubborn pimples that crop up, especially during this stressful time," said Lee. (Editor's note: Dr. Lee is the founder of SLMD Skincare.)

Lee is prone to eczema and recommends using an eczema relief cream to rid of itching, dryness and irritation. She says she keeps a tube of Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream on her nightstand for regular use.

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This cream is steroid- and fragrance-free, making it ideal for those with sensitive or itchy skin in addition to soothing eczema flare-ups.

It has colloidal oatmeal in it, which has soothing properties. This is really good to moisturize skin if you have any inflammatory conditions like eczema," she explained. "It can even help with psoriasis too and the scaliness from that.'

We are washing our hands a lot these days, and thats making our hands really dry and cracked, said Lee.

To combat dry skin, she recommends using a skin-protecting healing ointment.

Lee likes the CeraVe Healing Ointment because it has ceramides in it, which help protect your outer skin barrier.

Put it around your cuticles as well, any kind of cracks you have in your fingers, and it will help to prevent hand eczema, she suggested.

Hydrocortisone cream is extremely versatile, and Lee advises always to have it on hand. She recommends using it to help tackle mild eczema, rash, pimples, inflammation or itchiness.

According to the brand, this cream temporarily relieves itching, redness or inflammation due to minor skin irritations. This one also contains aloe, which helps to soothe painful skin issues.

Hyaluronic acid is a buzzy ingredient that helps soothe skin and boost moisture. Lee is a fan of the Neutrogena Hydro Boost to keep her skin hydrated and calls it one of her favorite products.

"It has hyaluronic acid in it, which really helps to draw in moisture and keep it in the skin, she said. "I also really like it because it's cool when you put it on and that is really soothing."

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Megan is an Associate Commerce Editor for TODAY Digital. Connect with her on Instagram or on Twitter.

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5 best skin care products to help with stress, according to Dr. Pimple Popper - TODAY

By now everyone has realized that yes, washing your hands is actually very important. But, when you cannot wash your hands immediately, hand sanitizer should be by your side the way your phone and keys are. Over the past few weeks consumers across the globe have been clearing the shelves of hand sanitizer in order to prevent the spreading of COVID-19. With the use of hand sanitizer and washing your hands more frequently, the skin can start to feel dry and perhaps a bit irritated.

While the launch of Love Dirty comes at an unbelievably timely moment in history, the brand has been in the works for over two years. Founder Jason Daniels has had eczema for his entire life and always struggled with finding products that would benefit his skin without irritating it or causing inflammation. High quality hand sanitizer was one of the harder products to find that would relieve his skin instead of causing an eczema flare up. Love Dirty recently launched a luxurious and revolutionary hand sanitizer made with prebiotics and beneficial skincare ingredients to keep hands healthy and clean.

The Glamshell System is portable and adorable, perfect for your makeup bag, purse, or jacket pocket. A set of three Glamshell Refills costs $16.50 and the recyclable set allows you to use your chic Glamshell pod beyond one use. Along with the portable Glamshell System, Love Dirty offers an Air-Free Eco Pump Dispenser to keep by the sink, on your desk, or on your vanity.

Love Dirty hand sanitizers formula features prebiotics to limit the regeneration of bad bacteria and help keep skin healthy and smooth. Other key ingredients include Avocado Oil, Betaine (helps to moisturize), Pantothenate (anti-inflammatory), and more. Shop Love Dirty now on lovedirty.com.

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Shop a Revolutionary Hand Sanitizer For Sensitive Skin - DuJour - dujour.com